Pafos assure safety, Ermis bow out
 

CYPRIOT 1st DIV: RELEGATION PLAYOFFS (MATCHDAY 8)

Pafos secured their place in next year’s Cypriot First Division with a 2:1 win over Ermis Aradippou. The result means that Ermis are mathematically relegated.

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Pafos FC have ensured their safety with a 2:1 away win at Ermis Aradippou, meaning that Saturday’s action will have no effect on their place in the Cypriot First Division for the 2019-2020 season. Relegation was already a certainty for Ermis, Friday’s loss simply marks their last top flight action until at least August 2020.

Pafos are now a full six points clear of the drop zone and are safe from relegation. For now, they are in eighth place, but they could fall to ninth if Alki Oroklini win their final match. Ermis finish in 12th and last place, they will play next season in the Cypriot Second Division. In their 32 matches, they won just three matches earning just 13 points. The last time they played in the Second Division was the 2012-2013 season.

Yiannis Mavrou did score first for Ermis, but that goal was overruled by Adam Nemec and Federico Rasic’s markers.

THE MATCH

Ermis Aradippou hosted Pafos FC at Stadio Ammochostos in Larnaca, last match of the season for both. Kyriakos Antoniou had an early chance for the hosts, but it was knocked aside by Giannis Angelopoulos for a corner.

In the 19th minute, they came knocking again, Gerasimos Fylaktou stole the ball from Adam Nemec in midfield and connected with Yiannis Mavrou, who with a quick release surprised Angelopoulos and gave Ermis the 1:0 lead.

Nemec tried to atone for his error less than a minute later, but his strong strike was parried aside by Giannis Firinidis. Firinidis then came up with a save on Panayiotis Zachariou.

In the 31st minute, Pafos did draw level when Federico Rasic sped down the wing and laid off for Nemec, who slid out and beat Firinidis low. Nemec now leads the league in scoring by one over AEL Limassol’s Ruben Jurado and AEK Larnaca’s Ivan Trickovski.

Kostas Pileas tried to put Ermis back ahead with a free kick. His free kick hit the wall and came back to him, but his shot was stopped by Angelopoulos. Good chances both ways, and a 1:1 halftime score was the result.

Pafos carried the play all throughout the second half, but had trouble hitting the target. Finally they got what they were looking for when Kevin Holt laid off for Abdisalam Ibrahim. Ibrahim dribbled around Giorgos Katsiati and along the goal line, then played in a wide cross to Rasic. Rasic had a go, but it was blocked in front by Pileas. The rebound came back to him, and he headed it first time, and it eluded Firinidis from a sharp angle. The 80th minute goal put Pafos ahead, and they never looked back.

Katsiati, thoroughly embarrassed wanted redemption and did get one last chance in stoppage time, but he missed the net, and Pafos hung on for a vital 2:1 win over Ermis Aradippou.

by Andreas Mantzas

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